Half the Truth

Trigger warning: mentions of alcohol abuse

           I’m ready to throw my cell phone against the wall.

           After a week of bad reception, I returned to the store where I bought it.

           “What can I help you with?” asked the clerk.

           “I’ve had this cell phone thirty-one days, and the person I’m calling keeps breaking up.

           “I’m sorry, but the store guarantee is only good for 30 days. We are quite generous since the phone itself only has two weeks.”

           I bet if it was your phone you’d make sure it was fixed.

           “So. if I had come in yesterday, you would have fixed it because it was within in the 30 days?”

           “Well . . . yes. Or replace it.”

           I don’t want another phone like this one!

           “You could call tech support,” said the clerk. “I’ll write down their number for you.” She handed me the note.

           Pointing at the note, I said. “Call between 8AM and 5PM on weekdays.” I looked from the note to the clerk. “I work 8-5 weekdays.”

           Tech support means voicemail, which will take longer than my lunch hour.

           “I could sell you another one,” said the clerk.

           I about gagged. “No thank you,” and left.

           I wonder if the CEO of the carrier ever heard of ‘do to others as you would want them to do to you.’

At least I could relax with my girlfriends over lunch.

On the way to lunch, we discussed what stores have the best deals on dresses, who is dating who, and what courses we are taking in our senior year at college.

We chose a Mexican restaurant to have for lunch. I ordered tea and enchiladas. Chelsie ordered a beer and chimichangas and Wendy ordered beer and burritos.

“I was pulled over yesterday for just having an open beer can in my car,” said Chelsie.

“You shouldn’t have been drinking in the car,” said Wendy.

“I wasn’t. George left it there on the way to work today.”

“You two really need to quit drinking.” Wendy finished off her second beer. “Waitress, can I have another beer?”

“I usually only drink one beer just before going to bed. You’ve had more than I have. You just ordered your third beer.”

“I’ve seen you go to parties and drink plenty.”

“Parties don’t count.”

“I’ll help you with your drinking problem,” said Wendy. She pointed at me. “I’ll help you become like her. A tea-totaller.”

Partially opening my lips, my eyes opened wide and I jerked my head back. I’m not the perfect example!

What can I say that Wendy would listen to? Yes, I don’t drink, but that doesn’t mean I don’t drink one can of beer when I am too sick to go to sleep.

Chelsie’s drinking is a splinter compared to Wendy’s 2 x 4. Wendy expects Chelsie to follow a standard she does not keep herself. She will never be able to help Chelsie’s drinking until Wendy eliminates her own.

I made some excuse to leave, paid for the food and tip without finishing eating. The argument spoiled my appetite.

           I was excited about the speaker for Wednesday night church service. Herman Hoffman is famous in the state for encouraging messages . . . But, I like to make my own evaluation.

           “I’m here to tell you the good news,” Herman Hoffman started, “of how to improve everything for yourself.”

            Wait a minute. That’s not the good news. Jesus is.”

           After saying the same thing three or four different ways, he finally moved on.

           “Invite God into your problems. Look how Paul and Silas sang in prison. Daniel’s friends were in the fire, and God brought them through.”

           That’s true. They were being persecuted for their beliefs. Why isn’t he saying that?

           “Everything will change when you invite God into your troubles. Your attitude. Your circumstances. Your family problems. Don’t ask to have your troubles removed. Ask God to get involved.”

           That sounds right.

           “I don’t care what your problem is: family problems, financial, physical. God can do it all. Ask God into your situation.”

           He sure is repeating himself a lot.

“God is there for every kind of trouble.”

A bunch of my troubles were ones I created myself. I needed to repent first. God did help me solve them, but not until matters became worse before they improved. Didn’t Mr. Hoffman experience trouble like that?

           “God will give you His favor, if you just let Him into your life.”

           Give favor? What kind of favor? Better yet, when does he expect God to give the favor? Is he trying to predict God?

Plant your seed of good deeds, and see what happens.”

           It almost sounded like he wanted money. I am tuning him out. He barely used scripture. He didn’t include ‘Jesus’ or ‘repentance’ in his definition of good news. He didn’t mention prayer, or that Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man. He was only preaching half the Bible’s message! I pondered what to do.

           This is too important to not bring it to his attention. But who am I that he would listen to me? I know. I’ll bring it up to a church elder. Surely the church can have an effect on Mr. Hoffman, because where two or three are gathered together, there Jesus is too.

           The next Sunday after church, I talked to Eugene Rivera. The elders like “Brother” to be an informal title.

           “Brother Rivera, I want to talk to you because I have some concerns about Mr. Hoffman.”

           “Oh?” He seemed surprised.

           “He only preached half the truth in the Bible. He didn’t mention sin as the cause of many problems. He barely used scripture. I’m not sure I even heard him say ‘Jesus’.”

           “What do you want me to do about it? He has already preached the sermon.”

           “I want someone to preach the other half.”

           “Hmmm. The other Brothers and I thought his speech was quite good. What he preached is true. You even admitted that. Anything he left out will eventually be covered.”

           I was stunned silent from the seriousness of what he said.   

           Out loud, I said, “I don’t know when Jesus is coming back. I don’t have time to wait for the other half to be preached. It’s time for me to find a new church.”